Storage Improvement through Archival Supplies

FAIN: PG-51105-11

FASNY Museum of Firefighting (Hudson, NY 12534-1601)
Ryan Mahoney (Project Director: May 2010 to December 2010)
Nicholas Peter DeCicco (Project Director: December 2010 to August 2012)

The purchase of storage supplies to house a collection of approximately 3,500 historical objects from the 18th century to the present, including firefighting equipment and gear, models, textiles, and memorabilia which reflect the history and traditions of volunteer fire service in New York State.

With the proposed Preservation Assistance Grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities, the FASNY Museum of Firefighting plans to purchase Coroplast, Ethafoam. and Tyvek for the improvement of the Museum's current storage shelving. The Museum currently lacks adequate storage equipment support materials. The storage areas are currently equipped with metal shelving that has an open grid, metal shelving deck. This shelving does not provide an even support base for objects of varying size (i.e. the wheels of model trucks rest in the areas between crossbars) and does not protect the objects from dust and light damage that occur on such objects like our leather fire helmets. The installation of these protective materials will allow for the long-term preservation of many objects through proper storage.